Brees 'ecstatic' even with one-year deal

SAN DIEGO —— Fresh from a vacation Down Under, Chargers
quarterback Drew Brees was enjoying a g'day, mate.

"I'm very happy, I'm ecstatic," said Brees, after returning from
Australia on Thursday night and signing his franchise tender offer
Friday morning. "The fact I get to be here for another year and
build on the foundation we have set for ourselves —— we are only
going to get better."

Few eclipsed Brees last season. The NFL Comeback Player of the
Year was selected to his initial Pro Bowl after leading the
Chargers to a 12-4 mark and their first AFC West title since 1994.
His reward for throwing 27 touchdowns and only seven interceptions
was the club designating him as its franchise player, which
translates into a one-year contract for $8.087 million.

Other clubs still can bid on Brees, and the Chargers have the
right to match any offer. If they declined to match, the Chargers
would receive two first-round draft choices.

That's extremely improbable, as is the Chargers trading Brees
with him being under contract for just one year.

"We expect him to be here," general manager A. J. Smith said.
"But then again another team's quarterback could get hurt or get in
an accident and I would get a phone call."

Smith does expect to hear back from Falcons free-agent returner
Allen Rossum. The Chargers made him an offer, but he left without
signing it. Atlanta is among the teams interested in Rossum.

Two Chargers did sign two-year contracts Friday: starting free
safety Jerry Wilson and backup offensive lineman David Brandt.
Wilson is expected to be pushed by Bhawoh Jue, the Packers' free
agent who was signed on Thursday.

Brees, of course, would love the security that accompanies a
multiyear contract. But with second-year pro Philip Rivers and his
$40 million pact on the bench, the Chargers weren't eager to tie
themselves to Brees beyond 2005.

Near the end of last season, Brees spoke repeatedly about
loyalty and how he hoped the Chargers would show him just that. But
Friday, he admitted their decision was based on the right strategic
thing to do, and he can live with it —- especially with $8 million
to soften the landing.

"The fact that you can keep both myself and Philip around for
another year, and see how he develops," said Brees, of the two
players counting nearly $11 million against the Chargers' salary
cap. "All I know is I'm worried about what they did for me and I
know I'm going to be here at least one more year. And I'm happy
about that."

The Chargers would be ecstatic if Brees' encore season resembles
his recent breakout one. Then they could more seriously contemplate
a multiyear contract, or, make him the franchise player once
again.

As sensational as Brees' 2004 was, the body of his NFL work
still leaves some to speculate he's not an elite quarterback. This
time last year, the Chargers made no secret of their desire to
upgrade Brees' position.